Detroit City Council is re-considering a plan from Mayor Dave Bing to add $30 million to the city budget. Earlier this month Council approved a plan that cut an additional $50 million from the mayor’s initial budget proposal.

Bing had attempted to broker a deal to reduce Council’s cut to just $20 million with proposals to add $10 million from additional revenue sharing and $20 million from a Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority (GDRRA) escrow fund that the city had been scheduled to receive in 2014.

Bing rejected the Council budget, but they overrode his veto with an 8-1 vote. Only Councilman James Tate voted against overriding the veto.

Bing said the Council’s budget would lead to severe cuts to bus service
and public safety, including police layoffs and the possible closure of
the People Mover.

“This administration has laid out the right path to fiscal stability,” said Mayor Dave Bing in a statement this afternoon. “We made a commitment to secure these funds and we delivered on that promise. I want to thank all the parties involved in this agreement and look forward to continuing to execute our plan to return to Detroit to fiscal stability.”

Council initially said the $30 million came with more questions than answers, but they also left the door open to revise the budget if Bing’s proposal included more details.

Now it appears at least some Councilmembers are satisfied that the plan is “real money” and doesn’t come with unwanted strings.

“The [GDDRA] money should be coming and the governor promised an additional $10 million, so we have an additional $30 million,” said Councilman Andre Spivey. “We know we have to take care of the Detroit People Mover and DDOT. We’ve got to get that done. We don’t want to cut both services.”

Council President Charles Pugh also says he’ll support the revised budget items.

“I’m willing to vote yes on the amendments,” said Pugh. “I’ve been convinced by our fiscal folks that at the end of next year we will have reduced the deficit by $50 million.”

Council is scheduled to discuss the mayor’s budget amendments tomorrow morning.